Bromley moved up to fifth in the table and extended their unbeaten run at home in League Two with a hard fought win over Barrow at Hayes Lane on Saturday afternoon thanks to a late winner from Nike Kabamba. 

The Ravens went into the game in a 4-5-1 formation and it was a slow start to proceedings with the ball either in the air or out of play for the first fifteen minutes, but Bromley started to look more positive as things went on with crosses into the box, which Wyll Stanway in the visitors’ goal handled well under pressure.

After a sustained spell of pressure Andy Woodman’s team found the break through on half an hour when the ball came out to Marcus Ifill who unleashed a low drive from 20 yards out and the ball skidded off the wet service into the far corner of the net to make it 1-0.

There was then a lengthy delay for an injury to Barrow’s Lewis Shipley who had to leave the pitch on a stretcher and the half came to a subdued end, with the home team leading. 

The misty rain drizzling down under the bright floodlights made for an atmospheric setting for the second half at Hayes Lane and it was Barrow who started on the front foot drawing level on 49 minutes when Rakeem Harper battled his way through several challenges on the edge of the area before setting up Ben Whitfield, who drove the ball home from 25 yards low into the net past Grant Smith for 1-1.

Charlie McCann then fired over for The Bluebirds, while Will Hondermarck did the same for Bromley at the other end as things opened up.

Barrow nearly took the lead on the hour when Elliot Newby crossed for Josh Gordon who put his diving header just wide of the near post.

Bromley then switched to two up front introducing Ben Krauhaus, Nike Kabamba & later Brooklyn Ilunga, looking to be more positive going forward.

Omar Sowunmi had a shot saved by Stanway from a Krauhaus cross and then Ilunga had a shot deflected wide. The Bluebirds’ keeper having had treatment for a head injury prior to this.

With Bromley now pressing for a winner the goal finally came on 88 minutes when Michael Cheek fired a shot across the area and Kabamba was on hand to side foot the ball home from close range to make it 2-1, his sixth of the campaign.

Barrow pushed for an equaliser in injury time, but it was Bromley who created the final chance, when Krauhaus broke from defence, ran 70 yards and then set up Cheek who had a shot saved by Stanway who then pushed Kabamba’s effort from the rebound wide.

The final whistle sounded soon after and although this was far from a classic match, it was a vital three points for The Ravens as they continue their challenge near the top of the table, but there were worrying scenes with Barrow custodian Stanway having further treatment on the pitch immediately after full time. 

Andy Woodman now prepares his side for a home game with Salford City next Saturday looking to continue a great run of form in League Two. 

Bromley: Smith, Ifill (Ilunga 81), Sowunmi, Elerewe, Odutayo, Pinnock, Charles, Hondermarck, Arthurs (Krauhaus 59), Whitely (Kabamba 68), Cheek.

Subs Not Used: Cameron, Long, Umolu, Stepien-Iwumene.  

Barrow: Stanway, Shipley (Mahoney 45), Canavan, Raglan, McCann, Harper (Fletcher 90), Jackson, Whitfield, Hemmings, Gordon (Earing 79).

Subs Not Used: Adu-Poku, Winterbottom, Smith.     

Goals: Bromley – Ifill 30mins, Kabamba 88mins. Barrow – Whitfield 49mins.  

HT 1-1 FT 2-1 

Att: 3,900                                        

Referee: Stephen Parkinson